Travel to Latvia

Latvia Arrival and transport

Travel to and in Latvia

Airplane

Lufthansa and Air Baltic offer daily connections from Frankfurt am Main to Latvia.

Rail

There is a daily connection from Berlin to Riga.

The Latvian rail network is well developed with 2,347 km and offers connections to Russia as well as to Estonia and Lithuania. In Latvia itself there are connections among all major cities in the country.

Roads

There are numerous roads to Estonia, Lithuania and Russia. All parts of Latvia are connected by a good road network. The road network is 73,202 km long, of which 28,256 km are paved.

Rental cars

You can find the usual rental car companies such as Avis, Europcar and Hertz in Latvia.

Ferry connections

A ferry connection is offered three times a week from Kiel to Riga. The journey time is approx. 40 hours. The Latvian waterways extend for a total of 300 km.

The most important sea ports are Riga, Liepaja and Ventspils. From there there are ferry connections to Sweden and Germany.

Traffic rules

The traffic lights are different in Latvia than in Germany: Green – flashing green – yellow – red.

The flashing green corresponds to the yellow in Germany. If the traffic light is yellow, you are no longer allowed to drive.

Maximum speeds in

urban areas 50 km/h, out of town 90 km/h. Special regulations

Per mille

limits The limit for the blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mille.

Special regulations

Dipped beam is mandatory at all times of the day. Winter tires are from 1.12. until 1.03. mandatory, winter tires with spikes are from 15.08. until 1.05. allowed.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Latvia is:

LV

Tourist office

Latvia Tourist Office

Brīvības iela 55

1519 Rīga

Tel: 00371 – 67229945

Latvia: entry and exit regulations

Formalities, visas

On December 21, 2007, the Schengen Agreement came into force in Latvia. Together with Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, from this point on, you can enter all these countries without border controls. For example, a Spaniard can get to Estonia without any controls and a Finn via Estonia to Portugal. As of December 21, 2007, a total of 26 states belong to the Schengen area.

In the Moselle town of Schengen in Luxembourg, it was decided in 1985 to gradually abolish border controls in the participating countries, but to increase controls at the external borders.

Import and export of foreign currency

There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency in Latvia.

Import and export of goods

The import and export of weapons, ammunition or explosives is strictly prohibited. In addition, the import and export of plants and animals that are protected under the Washington Species Protection Act is prohibited. Violation can result in severe penalties. The total value of gifts and goods imported into Latvia cannot exceed Ls 150 (around € 270). In addition, no more than three items of the same type may be brought along. The total value of several objects of the same type must not exceed Ls 15 (€ 27).

The duty-free import of beverages, food and tobacco products is restricted for the following goods:

  • up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages (more than 15% alcohol content), as well as up to 2 liters of wine and up to 5 liters of beer per adult
  • up to 12 liters of non-alcoholic drinks per person
  • 1 kilogram of coffee per person
  • 3 packaging units (with a total value of up to Ls 15 (approx. € 27) food per person (the import of unprocessed milk or raw meat is strictly prohibited.)
  • no more than 200 cigarettes or 20 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco per adult.

The import of weapons, drugs and the like is generally prohibited.

Entry with pets

For the owners of dogs and other animals, when traveling abroad, the question arises whether they can even take their animals with them to the chosen travel destination, and if that is possible, then of course the question of the respective applicable conditions arises. Here with us you will find all the important information on this topic, seriously researched at the embassies or the Foreign Office.

For the entry into Latvia with pets, the EU regulation on the import and export of pets from October 1st, 2004 applies.

According to this EU regulation, pets may only be imported into Latvia if they either have an implanted electronic chip or are tattooed (from 2011 an electronic chip is mandatory for all pets) and are therefore clearly identifiable. In addition, an EU pet passport must be issued for every pet brought with you. This card can be issued by any resident veterinarian.

Any pet that is to be imported into Latvia must be vaccinated against rabies. It should be noted that the rabies vaccination must have been given at least 21 days prior to entry and must not have been more than twelve months ago. Pets must be at least three months old when they are first vaccinated.

Pets that are younger than three months and are therefore not vaccinated against rabies can still bring them to Latvia. These pets must be chipped or tattooed, an EU pet passport must be issued and it must be guaranteed that these animals have been kept in the same place since they were born and that they have not come into contact with wild animals.

Latvia: Travel Medicine and Warnings

Infectious diseases

In Latvia, no infectious diseases are to be expected that do not also occur in Germany or Central and Northern Eupa:

  • Lyme disease, from tick bites
  • Intestinal infections caused by contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • Hepatitis B.
  • Polio, polio
  • tetanus
  • Rabies, only in risky travelers
  • Typhoid, only in people who come into contact with contaminated drinking water or feces

Recommended vaccinations

when traveling to Latvia, the following vaccinations recommended:

  • Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist in your home country.
  • Hepatitis B, a vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for people who may come into contact with blood or for those who are looking for sexual contact.
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • polio
  • Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus should always exist in the home country.
  • Rabies, but only in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.

Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination regulations when entering or staying in the country.

Hazards and current warning notices

Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizens’ Service

Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000

ww https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de w.auswaertiges-amt. de

Currency and shopping

The national currency of Latvia has been the euro (€) since January 1, 2014.

Bank opening hours

  • Monday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
  • Sunday: closed

Shop

Most grocery stores are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Shop opening times

  • Monday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Sunday: closed

Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs

In Latvia you can buy amber and handicrafts particularly well.

Latvia: embassies, consulates

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Latvia embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

Representations of Latvia in Germany

The Latvian embassy is located in a beautiful villa on Reinerzstrasse in the Schmargendorf district, which is part of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district. Not far away is the embassy of Israel.

On June 29, 2000, the official business was opened as part of a celebration. The villa was built in the 1920s as a city villa for the Jewish commercial councilor Hermann Schöndorff. Before the building became the headquarters of the embassy, it was owned by the Evangelical Consistory Berlin-Brandenburg – and was used as an Evangelical University of Applied Sciences for social work and social education.

Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Berlin

Reinerzstrasse 40/41

14193 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 82 60 02 22

Email: embassy.germany@mfa.gov.lv

Consulate in Düsseldorf

Vogelsanger Weg 6

40417 Düsseldorf

Tel: 0049 – (0) 211 – 6 35 42 71

Consulate in Frankfurt/Main

Börsenplatz 5 (c/o Deutsches Aktieninstitut eV)

60313 Frankfurt am Main

Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 9 29 15 31

Consulate in Hamburg

Neuer Wall 7

20354 Hamburg

Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 36 55 33

Consulate in Munich Ohmstrasse

22

80802 Munich

Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 33 03 72 71

Consulate in Rostock

Lise-Meitner-Ring 2

18059 Rostock

Tel: 0049 – (0) 381 – 4 05 58 55

German representations in Latvia

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Riga

Raina Bulv. 13

1050 Riga

Tel: 00371 – 67 08 51 00

Email: info@riga.diplo.de

Web: www.riga.diplo.de

Austrian representations in Latvia

Austrian Embassy in Riga

Elizabetes iela 15-4 °

1010 Riga

Tel: 00371 – 721 61 25

E-Mail: riga-ob@bmeia.gv.at

Representations of Latvia in Austria

Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Vienna

Stefan Esders Platz 4

1190 Vienna

Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 403 31 12

Email: embassy.austria@mfa.gov.lv

Consulates

Hans-Sachs-Gasse 3/3

8010 Graz

Tel: 0043 – (0) 316 – 813 100

Email: info@poelzer.net

Honorary Consulate in Salzburg

Alter Markt 4

5020 Salzburg

Tel: 0043 – (0) 662 – 638 59 27

Email: karl.winding@diakoniewerk.at

Swiss representations in Latvia

Swiss Embassy in Riga

Elizabetes iela 2

1340 Riga

Tel: 00371 – 733 83 51/-52/-53

Fax: 00371 – 733 83 54

Email: rig.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

Web: www.eda.admin.ch/ riga

The Swiss embassy in Latvia is also responsible for Lithuania.

Representations of Latvia in Switzerland

Embassy

Responsible is the Embassy in Austria in Vienna

Consulate in Zurich

Selnaustrasse 5

8001 Zurich

Tel: 0041 – (0) 43 – 817 65 46

Email: lettland@granelli.ch

Travel to Latvia